Xiaomi’s current MIUI and HyperOS smartphones offer users many ways to personalize the home screen. One of the key elements that enhances usability is the so-called widget tape, or news feed, which opens when swiped to the right of the first desktop. Many device owners face a situation where this functionality is disabled by default or does not work correctly, without displaying current information.
This section allows you to quickly access weather data, pedometers, notes and news aggregators without having to open separate applications. However, the activation process may vary depending on the version of the operating system and regional firmware. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate this tool, what alternatives are available, and how to customize the display of content to your needs.
It is important to understand that the term “news feed” in the Xiaomi ecosystem often combines two different concepts: system widgets and news stream from Google or third-party services. Properly configuring each of these components requires a separate approach.
The basics of working with the left screen in MIUI and HyperOS
The left screen, often referred to as the “Minus First Page” or App Vault, is a standard feature of Xiaomi’s shell interface.It’s designed to accommodate the most sought-after widgets, such as calendar, weather, battery status, and shortcuts to frequently used apps. By default, this screen can be hidden if the user has previously disabled it in the system settings or reset the launcher settings.
In newer firmware versions, especially HyperOS, the way we organize space has changed, and widgets can now be embedded directly into the desktop or put into a separate menu called by swipe down. However, the classic left bar is still available for activation, and the functionality of this section depends on the installed services of Google and the system applications Mi.
⚠️ Note: If you see an empty screen or only the Add widget button after you turn on the swipe to the left, it means that no widget has been selected for display.
For users who are used to other brands, Xiaomi’s interface may seem overloaded, but the flexibility of customization makes it possible to turn the left screen into a powerful productivity tool, and you can place not only standard elements, but also widgets of third-party applications, if they support this feature in Android.
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Use the left screen to place widgets you use several times a day, such as a habit tracker or currency rate, so you don’t clutter up your main desktop.
Instructions for activating widgets through settings
To enable the display of the additional screen with widgets, you need to refer to the system settings of the launcher. This process is simple and takes no more than a minute, but requires careful choice of the desired menu items, as the names can vary in different versions of the software.
Follow a step-by-step algorithm of actions to activate the function:
- 📱 Open the Settings app on your smartphone.
- 🔍 In the search by settings, enter the word "Worker" or find the Desktop section (may be called "Home screen").
- 🖱️ Select Add Screen or Minus One Screen.
- ✅ Activate the switch that allows the display of the widget tape.
After doing this, try swiping to the right of the left edge of the main screen. If everything goes well, a panel should appear suggesting adding widgets. In some versions of MIUI, this item may be in the section Additional within the desktop settings. Rebooting the device after making changes is usually not required, changes are applied instantly.
☑️ Checking tape activation
If you don’t find the items described, your version of the launcher may be different, so check for updates to the system or the Security app, which often contains Xiaomi system function management modules.
Set up the Google Discover News Stream
Many users use Google Discover, a smart feed that analyzes your interests and shows articles, videos and news. On Google-certified Xiaomi smartphones, this feature is often built into the default left screen, but can be disabled.
To activate the news feed from Google, you must perform the following actions:
- 🌐 Make sure that Google Play services are installed and updated on your device.
- 🔍 Open the Google app (the icon with the letter "G").
- 👤 Click on the profile avatar in the upper right corner and select Settings.
- 📰 Go to General and find Discover (or Google Tapes").
- ✅ Turn on the tape display.
Once Google Discover is enabled, it may take some time to load content initially, the system will start offering topics it thinks you might be interested in, you can improve the selection by marking cards as "Not Interesting" or choosing topics you like, which makes the feed personalized and relevant.
⚠️ Attention: Google Discover tape consumes Internet traffic. If you have a limited plan, watch the amount of data transferred, especially when watching high-resolution video content.
It is important to note that in some regions or on devices without Google services (Chinese versions), this functionality may not be available or replaced with a news aggregator from Xiaomi (Mi Video/Mi News), which is often saturated with advertising content, in which case it is recommended to use third-party launchers or widgets of news applications.
Resolving Display and Advertising Problems
One of the frequent problems faced by Xiaomi owners is intrusive advertising in the news feed or its complete disappearance after the system update.Ad blocks can be found in both system widgets and Google Discover (through tagged articles).
To minimize the amount of advertising and correct display errors, use the following tips:
- 🚫 In the Security app, go to settings and disable "Receive recommendations".
- 📉 In the settings of the widget "News" (if used system) disable the display of advertising cards.
- 🔄 Clear the cache of Google App and Google Play Services through the App menu -> Application management.
If the news feed is missing or is not working correctly (loads indefinitely, crashes), try resetting the launcher settings. To do this, go to Settings -> Apps -> All Apps -> Find Desktop (or System Launcher) -> Clear -> Reset. Important: this action will return the location of the icons on desktops to the factory look, so pre-take screenshots.
Why is the ad coming back?
It is also worth checking the date and time on the device. Incorrect timing can lead to sync errors with news servers, which causes the tape to stop updating or display old data.
Comparison of system widgets and third-party solutions
Users often wonder: which is better to use – built-in tools Xiaomi or third-party applications? the answer depends on your needs for speed, design and functionality.
| Characteristics | System widgets (App Vault) | Third-party launchers (Nova, Lawnchair) | Google widgets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integration | Deep, access to system functions | Limited, depending on access rights | High, linked to a Google account |
| Advertising | It is possible in free versions of MIUI. | Not available (in paid or open source versions) | Present in Discover tape |
| Productivity | Optimized for a specific device | It can consume more resources. | Stable work |
| Design | It fits the shell style. | Full customization | Material You, adapting to wallpaper |
Xiaomi system widgets often benefit in response speed and integration with the hardware of a smartphone, such as accurately displaying steps or charging Bluetooth headphones. However, they may be less flexible in terms of design. Third-party solutions such as Nova Launcher or Smart Launcher provide huge opportunities for changing the appearance, but can require more battery resources.
If you want minimalism and cleanliness, consider installing a Google launcher or specialized widgets that aren’t overloaded with unnecessary features, and the balance between functionality and performance is a key factor when choosing.
Additional features and hidden functions
Xiaomi’s news and widget feed hides a number of features that not everyone knows about, such as in App Vault mode, you can add quick access to the scanner. QR-codes, voice recorder or calculator, which significantly speeds up the work with these tools.
Newer versions of HyperOS have the ability to resize widgets directly on the left screen, and stack them on top of each other, so you can free up space and structure information. To edit, press and hold the widget, then select the option to change the size or style.
⚠️ Warning: When installing widgets from unknown developers in Play Market, be careful.Some of them may request excessive permissions or slow down the system.
Also worth mentioning is the Smart Recommendations feature, which can suggest you run an app you normally open at that time of day, or show a plane ticket if you have one in your mail, which works on the basis of analyzing user behavior and requires permission to access certain data.
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Maximum efficiency is achieved by combining system widgets for quick action and Google Discover for content consumption.
By experimenting with settings, you can create a unique workspace that will fully match your rhythm of life and preferences in the consumption of information.